Letter 716
To Hesychius, priest. (362)
You know better than most that I want the temples to recover their beauty no less than the priests do. But I would not want this to happen through the demolition of private houses when the same result could be achieved with those houses still standing. Let what exists remain upright and what has fallen be raised again -- let us not beautify some things while destroying the cities.
As for the house of Theodolus, it would be easy to bring charges against it, but it deserves to be spared. It is a fine, large building that enhances our city. And Theodolus did not pull apart the sacred precinct through arrogance and drunken outrage -- there were sellers and he bought, paying the prices asked, doing what anyone with the means to buy could have done.
Those who claim to know all of Theodolus's affairs say he has made such purchases many times, and they thought the matter should go to court. When I learned they wanted judges, I did not allow them to seek any better ones than you, knowing you would reach a decision that shows care for both the god and the city.
So if you arrive at something moderate, write to us about it, so that we may praise you.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol.
I know your affection for me, and your zeal for all that is good. I am exceedingly anxious to pacify my very dear son Callisthenes, and I thought that if I could associate you with me in this I might more easily achieve my object. Callisthenes is very much annoyed at the conduct of Eustochius, and he has very good ground for being so.